Steps in Basic FENIX Therapeutic Pressure Massage

A pictorial display of the various
trigger point treatments described below
is found onSelf
Care Demonstration.
Do not cause yourself undo pain; you are in control of
the
amount of pressure you apply.

Place the FENIX on your bed or a carpeted floor. Select the
appropriate
therapeutic digit or digits, and insert them into the proper hole or
holes of
the FENIX. (Self
Care Demonstration).

Slowly rest the targeted trigger point against the appropriate
therapeutic
digit or digits. Generally apply the FENIX through clothing. If used
over
unclothed areas (such as cervical spine), place a towel over the digits.

Gluteus Medius release for Hip and Leg
Pain

Low Back Pain Quadratus Lumborum release
Multifidus release

Mid-Back and Shoulder pain
Rhomboid/Lower-Trapezius release

Relax into the digit or digits to produce a sustained pressure
creating a
mild local discomfort with a distinctive pattern of referral pain, which
will
usually be similar to the symptoms of your complaint.

Treatment is useless if you tense the involved muscles in order to
protect
the trigger point from pressure, as this will cause spasms and aggravate
your
condition.

Apply appropriate sustained pressure to the trigger point with
sufficient
force and for long enough time to inactivate it. This will cause some
minor
momentary discomfort.

If the treatment is properly applied, generally the local discomfort
and
referral pain will abate within a minute (30 - 90 seconds).

As this tolerable discomfort lessens, you may get a sensation of the
pain
causing trigger point releasing or "melting away." As this happens you
need to
relax deeper onto the digit or digits increasing the therapeutic
pressure and
slightly increasing the discomfort again. Go easy!

During this process you can increase pressure, up to 20 pounds for
large
muscles only (buttocks) and much less (one to five pounds) for smaller,
thinner
muscles lying over bone. This treatment process can be continued up to
one
minute, two minutes for variable therapeutic compression technique (Self
Care Demonstration). Release of the muscle knot
can bring you pain relief, increased flexibility and improved
performance.

Insufficient pressure will not adequately stimulate nerve receptors
in order
to produce a therapeutic response. However, excessive pressure can
irritate the
tissues and cause increased excitation of nerve receptors, thus
increasing
spasms and pain. A mild state of discomfort while performing the therapy
is
ideal. Ideal therapeutic pressure depends upon many factors, your age,
health
status, level of toxicity and inflammation of your tissues.

If the trigger point does not dissipate within one minute you may
repeat the
treatment process, after treating other secondary TPs in the area. Then:

Apply a hot pack to the resistant myofascial TP.

Second, slowly stretch the involved muscle to the verge of
discomfort.

Then reapply the treatment process again, as described above, to the
resistant trigger point.

Treatment with the FENIX may fail to afford you complete relief
because:

The trigger pointis severe and will require many applications with
the FENIX
over a longer period of time, which
is common.

You are not applying enough pressure or you are releasing the
pressure
instead of increasing it as The trigger point"melts away".

Or you have complications or perpetuating factors that continue to
make your
TPs hyperirritable, complications which must be diagnosed and treated by
your
doctor or referred to a specialist.

To effect the greatest relief in your symptoms, choose the TPs that
reproduces your symptom pain pattern. If treatment is effective, you may
notice
changes in range of motion and strength as well as a decrease in the
level of
pain. After treatment with the FENIX, passive stretching of the muscle
for 90
seconds is vital if you desire to rehabilitate your pain (Please see the
pictorial
stretching guide). Continued severe
post- treatment soreness should be treated immediately with ice on The
trigger
pointuntil the tissue numbs, then discuss your treatment program with
your
doctor or therapist.

Angled Digit Treatment

The two sets of 55 angled holes on the FENIX at the end opposite the
handle
and near the handle can be used singularly to get at hard-to-reach
places (e.g.
under the shoulder blade or top of shoulder). Or these sets of angled
holes can
be used in pairs to compress and stretch the trigger points
simultaneously with
paired crossed digits (see picture on home page). This special feature
is only
found on the FENIX Rehab System.

There is also a 70 angled hole next to the handle which is of a
lesser
angle than the other holes, to be used with different length digits to
get a
better treatment angle to treat various areas of the body.

With some experimentation on your part you will find the best angle
and
length of digit to most effectively treat your selected myofascial
trigger
points (check your DVD and the Self
Care Demonstration in the Self Treatment Guide for ideas). With a
single angled digit you
can apply all the special techniques listed on the Self
Treatment Program page, such as variable
compression, myofascial release techniques, position release techniques,
and
deep transverse friction massage.

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